Hope despite bleak Dunfermline outlook

Administrator Bryan Jackson is hopeful Dunfermline Athletic have the personnel and fanbase to survive after a bleak financial picture was painted this week.

Dunfermline administrator Bryan Jackson. Picture: SNS

In a statement on the club’s official website, incoming owners Pars United warned that the Fife outfit are in a “very distressed state”, with a target of £150,000 still to be raised in the current campaign.

The fans’ group are taking Dunfermline out of administration through a Company Voluntary Arrangement after raising upwards of £500,000, but the future of the club remains littered with financial challenges. “We need to be under no illusion that our club is now fixed,” said Pars United figurehead Bob ­Garmory. “The club is still in a very distressed state. Every week we seem to be finding new issues.”

Jackson’s firm, BDO, are in control at Dunfermline and fellow accountancy giants KPMG possess East End Park until the complexities of handing control of both entities to Pars United are navigated.

Prominent members of Pars United are hopeful the hand-over could take place by the end of the month. However, it is understood that is a best case scenario and the formalities could well run into October.

Although aware of the challenges that will face Dunfermline’s new owners, the experience of the past six months since the club entered administration has convinced Jackson that the Pars can pull through.

“I think between the people involved at Pars United and the club’s supporters they should find a way,” said Jackson, whose company is currently also carrying out the administration process at Hearts.

“It is never easy and, of course, people are short of money these days, especially when the Dunfermline supporters have given so much already. But I would hope they will get there.”